Briditte Valdez winner of the North Carolina International United Miss Jr. Teen describes herself and what she likes

   I am a 15-year-old Latina with many dreams and ambitions. Although I was born in Miami, Florida, I now call Charlotte, North Carolina home. In my free time I love to sing, exercise, travel with my family, and volunteer. On Sunday mornings, I volunteer with my church, waking up as early as 4:30a.m. to assist the production team. Another of my favorite ways to ‘give back’ is by volunteering on Thanksgiving by feeding the less fortunate; which has become one of my favorite family traditions.    When I’m not doing school work or volunteering, you can find me preparing for pageant competitions. At first, I thought that pageants weren’t for me. As a young minority, I didn’t think I fit the mold for a pageant girl. However, after competing in my first pageant in June of 2016, I realized that I have the traits needed to be a successful competitor. I have learned through my pageant experiences that in order to be successful, whether on stage, in college, at job interviews, or any number of life’s endeavors, it is crucial to have poise and confidence. 

     I recently won the title of North Carolina International United Miss Jr. Teen. (IUM) At IUM, contestants are scored on the following: 50 % of the contestant’s score is the interview with the judges. The questions are based on one’s community service and one’s personal introduction. 30% is modeling an evening gown with poise and confidence. 15% is one’s personal introduction—this is where one’s public speaking comes into effect. Finally, 10% is based on community involvement.     Winning the title of Miss North Carolina International United Jr. Teen has provided me with a platform to speak about issues that are important in my life. I’ve been promoting diabetes awareness, choosing a healthy and active lifestyle, and making informed dietary choices. This platform also allows me to honor my Grandmother Martha, who passed away due to complications from diabetes.     Additionally, I’m an advocate for natural, cruelty-free beauty products and non-toxic cosmetics. Starting at a young age, I began competing in singing and vocal competitions, for which I had to use stage makeup. I learned quickly that using cheap and toxic makeup can cause irritation and discomfort, which any singer, actor, stage performer or competitor knows can hinder performance. Today, I use cosmetics with natural ingredients. I’ve even launched a business plan to start my own line of natural cosmetics! One of my goals is to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study business, so I can see through my dream of becoming an entrepreneur and sharing my cosmetics line with the world.

    Thank you for reading about my endeavors! For more info about International United Miss pageants, visit: internationalunitedmiss.com.